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Olympic torch relay route revealed

Carlisle will be the only British city to be visited twice by the Olympic Torch before the games in London this summer.

The Olympic Torch relay is due to pass through on June 20 as part of a 70-day tour of 1,000 towns and cities across the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man.

After an evening celebration, it will continue to Dumfries before returning to Carlisle via Annan, Eastriggs and Gretna on June 21 on the way to Wigton, Aspatria, Maryport, Flimby, Workington, Whitehaven, Cockermouth, Keswick, and Bowness-on-Windermere.

A free night time concert – showcasing some local talent – will be held on the night the Olympic Flame arrives in Carlisle.

Community groups StagedRight theatre and Carlisle Heroes cheerleading club are among the performers in Bitts Park on the night between 5pm and 7.30pm. There will be other live entertainment provided by Olympic sponsors.

A spokeswoman for Carlisle City Council said: “Most of the entertainment programme will be set by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG). We get two 10 minute slots to showcase local talent.”

It is not yet known if a celebrity or sporting celebrity will be part of the celebrations.

In Carlisle the torch will arrive at Tesco Rosehill at 6.08pm and travel into the city along Warwick Road.

Twenty torch bearers will pass it on every 300 metres as it progresses to Bitts Park.

The torch is due back in Carlisle at 10am on Thursday, June 21. Ten more bearers will carry the flame from Waverley Road, near Morrisons, to Wheatlands in Wigton Road.

Anna Nicholson, 16, of Brampton, is one of the torchbearers in Carlisle.

The William Howard School pupil is a budding Paralympian and has recently broken the British record for discus in her category.

Runner and Sellafield team leader Gary McKee, 42, of Cleator Moor, has been chosen to carry the torch through Whitehaven along with Shameem Arnold, 34, of Egremont.

Shameem, who is co-founder of the dance fitness company Moky, was nominated by her husband and business partner Mat.

She said: “I am honoured to have been chosen for this accolade. To carry the torch through Whitehaven would is an amazing privilege.”

Gary and Shameem, and the other torchbearers, will wear a white and gold uniform which been designed by Adidas.

Councillor Mark Fryer, Allerdale council’s executive member with responsibility for sports development, said: “The announcement brings the route to life and will hopefully encourage people to get involved by lining the streets.

"People in Allerdale will be able to welcome the Olympic flame to the streets of their towns, celebrate the achievements of the inspirational torchbearers carrying the flame in their communities and share in the excitement of the Olympic Torch Relay.”

Have your say

Stood on New Road to see the Beginning of the torch run into Whitehaven. The torch went by on the bus. There was a lot of disappointed people, who were wet and angry. New Road was listed in the local papers as one of the places to see the torch.

Posted by Pat Henderson on
21 June 2012 at 15:24

Talk about "cup half empty" comments! The ticketing system may have been shambolic but the torchbearing is completely fantastic. These Jonahs should read the achievements of these 'ordinary' people (torchbearers) - I don't know any of them but the opportunity to be involved is massive. Michael's comments have made me think though - the Council shouldn't have to waste our precious money cleaning streets - we should all pull together to discourage those who drop litter! I shall now go down to the Whitehaven route as early as I can with a bag and some gloves and pick up any rubbish I see. Community spirit - come on lads, get on board!